Measuring spoon



April 21, 1959 D. A. cERcoNE 2,882,732

MEASURING sPooN Filed Aug. s, 195e :E52 g` Z INVENTOR.

Dommnc; A. CEECQNE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O MEASURING SPOON Dominic A. Cercone, Bradford, Pa.

Application August 3, 1956, Serial N o. 601,903

Claims. (Cl. 73-429) This invention relates to measuring spoons, and more particularly has reference to a measuring spoon so dep signed that adjustments can be readily made therein to permit use of the same for measuring various quantities of liquid or granular materials.

One object of importance is to permit measuring to be carried out far more conveniently in the home or in various business establishments such as restaurants or bakeries, as well as in laboratories, wherein measurements of material must be made with considerable frequency.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which will be so designed as to eliminate the necessity presently existing, of selecting a spoon from one of a set thereof, for making ay particular measurement of material.

Still another object is to permit the adjustment of the device for a particular measurement to be carried out with maximum ease, by a very slight movement of the thumb, either outwardly or inwardly, of a hand grasping the spoon. In this way, it is proposed to provide a measuring spoon that will require its being held with only one hand, so that there is freedom of the other hand.

Still another object is to provide a measuring spoon with a minimum number of components, readily assembled with or disassembled from one another, thus to facilitate manufacture as well as cleaning.

Another object of importance is to provide a measuring spoon of the character described which will be of highly compact construction, will be rugged, durable, and will be of a size no greater than that of many conventional spoons presently in use, not having the desirable characteristics of the present invention.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the measuring device formed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the spoon.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral designates the body portion of the spoon, while at 12 there has been designated a trough portion, the reference numeral 14 being similarly used to designate an adjustable slide to be used in a manner presently to be made apparent herein.

Each of these three components of the device will be described in turn, and considering rst the body portion 10, this includes an elongated main part 16 merging at one end into a tapering handle 18. Main part 16 and handle 18 have at, coplanar top surfaces, and as shown in Figure 2, the underside of the body portion is formed with longitudinally extending ribs 20 at opposite sides of the body portion, providing means to strengthen the body portion.

At the outer end of the tapered handle 18, there is formed a downwardly concavo-convex depression 22, in the form of a hemispherical part of the handle. This is so proportioned that the upwardly opening depression Will be adapted to measure an eighth of a teaspoon of material, when dipped thereinto.

Integral with the body portion, intermediate opposite ends thereof, is a transverse rib 24, defining a partition on the underside of the body portion spaced longitudinally of the body portion from an end wall 26 thereof. End wall 26 and the transverse rib 24 are both of approximately semicircular appearance when the spoon is viewed in cross section as in Figure 2, and it will be understood that the rib 24 would constitute a bracing means, adapted to cooperate with the end rib 26 in properly mounting slidably upon the body portion the trough member 12.

In the end surface of the body portion remote from the handle 18, there is formed a shallow concavity or depression 28, constituting a fragment of a spherical cavity as shown in Figures 1 and 3. In the outer surface of the end rib 26 there is formed a groove receiving a sealing strip 30, which bears against the inner surface of the extensible trough member 12. It will be understood that the sealing means defined by the strip 30 can be eliminated, together with the strip-receiving groove of the end rib, in certain commercial embodiments, and it is not desired that the protection for the invention be limited solely to a` spoon having such a leak-preventive means. The leak-preventive strip or gasket can be eliminated, for example, when the relatively slidable parts of the device are formed of a material having the par, ticular, intrinsic characteristic of bearing closely against one another and expanding slightly, for the purpose of preventing leakage therebetween.

The trough member 12, as shown in Figure 4, has one end open, the other end being closed by a rounded end wall 31, which is bowed oppositely to the depression 28 as best shown in Figure 3 to permit the maximum amount of material to be held in the receptacle or recess defined between the end rib 26 and the end wall 31.

In any event, on the outer surface of the trough member 12, adjacent the open end thereof, there are formed relatively short longitudinal ribs 32. On the inner surface of said trough member there are formed longer ribs 34, and both the ribs 32 and 34 are adapted to provide guide means as shown in Figure 2.

Formed in the opposite sides of the elongated, main part 16 of the body portion 10 are longitudinal guide grooves 36. These are adapted to receive the tongues 34 of the trough member. As a result, the trough member is slidably mounted upon the body portion, with the trough member being slidable a selected distance beyond the end rib 26. There is thus defined between the end rib 26 and the end wall 31 of the trough member an upwardly opening recess 37 in which the material being measured will be confined. The recess is adjusted in area by selected relative longitudinal movement of the body portion and trough member.

The slide generally designated 14 is formed from a at, rectangular, relatively thin piece of material, shaped to include a plate 38 bridging the trough member and the body portion as shown in Figures l and 2 and formed at its opposite sides with depending lips 40, having inl y their inner surfaces longitudinally extending grooves receiving the outwardly projecting guide ribs 32 of the trough member. Thus, the plate 38 may be flexed slightly for the purpose of spreading the depending lips or flanges suciently to permit the same to be engaged over the 4 ribs 32. Since the grooves of the lips 40 .are closed at their opposite ends, the slide is thus xedly connected' 3 to the trough member, to slide therewith upon the body portion 10.

In one corner of the slide, there is formed a handle lug 42 having `a knurled or otherwise .roughened top surface, so that one grasping the handle 1S in one hand can exert pressure 'with his 'thumb upon the lug 42, lto shift the slide 14 toward either the outer or the inner -end of the device, whichever is necessary, depending upon whether the measurement is to be decreased or increased.

Porwardly of the -lug 42, and extending transversely of .the plate 38, there is a relatively wide slot 44, and integral with 'the material of the plate and disposed in the plane of said plate within the slot is. a pointer or index arm .46 terminating inwardly 'from the adjacent slot end, thus to define a viewing window 47 through which can be observed indicia marked upon the top surface vof the body portion.

'On 'the underside ofthe index arm or vpointer 4'6, there is formed-a depending, relatively low-crowned detent pro j'ection 48. 'The projection 48 is adapted Vto move within a longitudinally extending, shallow recess 50 Vformed in the top surface of the main part 16 of lbody portion 10. In the bottom of the recess, there are formed .transversely extending, closely spaced grooves S2 any of which is adapted to receive the detent projection 48. The grooves 52. will 'be disposed inwardly from one end of the recess 50, and in said one end of Vthe recess there is yprovided .a transverse groove 54 while at the other end there is a transverse .groove 56. By reason Vof this arrangement, indicia 58 'can be marked upon the top sur-face ofthe main part 16, 'to be selectively viewed through the sight window 47 'and registered with the point of the index arm 46. rIhus, the three rgrooves 52 can be respectively marked to designate one-half teaspoon, three-fourths of a lteaspoon, and one full teaspoon. The recess or `groove A56 may be associated with an indiciurn designating one tablespoon, while the indicium 54 may be registered with an indiciurn for one-'fourth teaspoon. Y

Of course, the principles of 'the invention are what protection is being sought for, not the particular indicia used, and it is believed that according to the particular uses 'to which the invention is 'to be put, any of various types of indicia may be associated with the grooves. Still "further, the spacing andthe number of the grooves can be varied within the scope of the claims as appended hereto.

In any event, in use o'f the device, vthe 'trough member is vassembled with the body portion, sliding 'upon the body portion between an inner extreme position in which pro jet-tion -48 is engaged in groove '54, and an outermost position in which the projection is engaged in the groove 56. VIt will be noted that the adjustment of the trough member between the opposite extreme positions will correspondingly 'adjust the size of the material-receiving recess 37. 'The slide 14, as previously noted, moves conjointly with 'the trough member, and the registration of the index -arrn 46 with a selected indicium will mean that the dened recess '37 will hold the indicated quantity of material.

'The invention 'has a number of highly'desirable advantages, as for example, it permits one to dispense with the usual set of measuring spoons, each of different size, which set requires thata particular spoon first be located, and then used with the other spoons dangling ltherefrom or left .loose within a drawer. .ln 'the vpresent invention, one can .adjust the size 'of the .measuring spoon over a comparatively large range, whileholding the spoonin-one hand, the .adjustments being made with the thumb i the hand grasping .the-spoon. This -leaves the -other'hand free for any desired purpose, as for example for the Ipurpose of .stirring batter or other material while ingredients are being measured into the same by means of the spoon.

'Still further, the invention 'is capable ofbeingmanufactured at a relatively 'low cost, Afrom .such inexpensive,

readily moldable materials -as .plastic `or the like. 'Dit'` 4 course, the spoon can be made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, wood, etc. and t 'is not desired that the protection be limited to the particular materials named.

It is to be further noted that the construction illustrated and described provides a highly compact spoon assembly that will take up no more space in a kitchen drawer or other storage place lthan is now taken up by a `conventional spoon not Ihaving .the advantages inherent in the invention. Still further, the spoon is separably assembled, to permit Ieasy Ycleaning of the several parts. One need only spring -the slide 14 out of engagement with the ribs or longitudinal tongues 32, and then spread the trough members slightly to disengage .the ribs 34 thereof from the grooves 36 of the main portion. Then, When the device has been reassembled, the engagement of the slide over the body portion, in the manner previously described herein, seats the projection 48 .in the recess, to hold the trough member and body Portion .against accidental separation when 4they are lonigtudinally shifted relative to one another.

It is believed apparent that 'the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof vdescribed above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to 'which 'it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the speciiic construction illustrated and described, since such .construction is only intended to be 'illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the 'invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of 'the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A measuring spoon comprising an elongated .body portion 'including 'at one vend a main .part and at the other part 'a `handle part, the main ,part of 'the body `portion being formed at opposite sides thereof with elongated guide grooves; a trough 'member of 'approximately semi-l cylindrical cross section, formed open at one end and having 'an end 'wall at its other end, .the 'trough member being slidably mounted upon and embracing the main part -of 'the body portion, said trough member being formed with internal longitudinal ribs slidably engaging in said grooves of the body portion, whereby to mount the trough member for adjustment longitudinally of the body portion, Vsaid vclosed end of the'trough member beingY spaced from the adjacent end of the body portion for defining a material-'receiving recess therebetween adjustable 'in size laccording to selected longitudinal adjustment ot the trough member `upon 'the 'body portion; and 'a slide bridging the body portion and connected between opposite sides Vof the trough member, said -slide including ahandle to facilitate adjustment of the trough'member upon 'the body portion, lsaid slide 'being formed with a transversely extending slot 'and 'with an `index arm extending in Asaid slot and -terminatingshort of 'one 'end of the slot to denne a viewing opening beyond one end of the index arm, .the body portion being 'formed with Va `longitudinal series of indicia selectively viewable through said 'viewing opening and `registralb'le selectively with "the 'index arm.

2. A measuring spoon comprising an elongated lbody portion 'including at one end a main part 'and a'tthe other part Va handle part, the main part of the body portion being formed at opposite .sides'thereof with elongated guide grooves; a trough member .of approximately semi-'cylindrical cross section, "formed open at one end and having an end wall at its other end, the trough member being slidably mounted upon and embracing the main part ofthe lbody portion, said trough member being formed with longitudinal ribs slidably engaging in said grooves of the body portion, whereby to mount the trough membe'rfor adjustment longitudinally of .theibody portion, 'said closed end of the .trough member being spaced y'from the adjacent end of the body Aportion for.

a material-receiving recess therebetween fadjustable Vin size according to selected longitudinal .adjustment of the trough member upon the body portion; and a slide bridging the body portion and connected between opposite sides of the trough member, said slide including a handle to facilitate longitudinal adjustment of the trough member upon the body portion, said slide being formed with a transversely extending slot and with an index arm extending in said slot and terminating short of one end of the slot to dene a viewing opening beyond one end of the index arm, the body portion being formed with a longitudinal series of indicia selectively viewable through said opening and registrable selectively with the index arm, the body portion having a longitudinally extending, shallow recess the bottom wall of which is formed with a plurality of transversely extending grooves individually aligned transversely of the body portion with corresponding indicia, the index arm being formed with a depending detent adapted to snap into and out of the transverse grooves responsive to longitudinal adjustment of the trough member, to releasably hold the trough members in selected positions of adjustment.

3. A measuring spoon comprising an elongated body portion including at one end a main part and at the other end a handle part, the main part of the body portion being formed at opposite sides thereof with elongated guide grooves; a trough member of approximately semicylindrical cross section, formed open at one end and having an end wall at its other end, the trough member being slidably mounted upon and embracing the main part of the body portion, said trough member being formed with longitudinal ribs slidably engaging in said grooves of the body portion, whereby to mount the trough member for adjustment longitudinally of the body portion, said closed end of the trough member being spaced from the adjacent end of the body portion for defining a material-receiving recess therebetween adjustable in size according to selected longitudinal adjustment yof the trough member upon the body portion; and a slide bridging the body portion and connected between opposite sides of the trough member, said slide including a handle to facilitate longitudinal adjustment of the trough member upon the body portion, said slide being formed with a tranversely extending slot and with an index arm extending in said slot and terminating short of one end of the slot to define a viewing opening beyond one end of the index arm, the body portion being formed with a longitudinal series of indicia selectively viewable through said opening and registrable selectively with the index arm, the body portion having a longitudinally extending, shallow recess the bottom wall of which is formed with a plurality of transversely extending grooves individually aligned transversely of the body portion with corresponding indicia, the index arm being formed with a depending detent adapted to snap into and out of the transverse grooves responsive to longitudinal adjustment of the trough member, to releasably hold the trough members in selected positions of adjustment, said index arm, when the detent is engaged in a selected one of the transverse grooves, being coplanar with the body-portionoverlying part of the slide, said detent, when not engaged in a selected transverse groove, bearing against an ungrooved portion of the bottom surface of said recess to bias the index arm upwardly out of the plane of the bodyportion-overlying part of the slide.

4. A measuring spoon comprising an elongated body portion including at one end a main part and at the other part a handle part, the main part of the body portion being formed at opposite sides thereof with elongated guide grooves; a trough member of approximately semicylindrical cross section, formed open at one end and having an end wall at its other end, the trough member being slidably mounted upon and embracing the main part of the body portion, said trough member being formed with longitudinal ribs slidably engaging in said grooves of the body portion, whereby to mount the trough member for adjustment longitudinally of the body portion, said closed end of the trough member being spaced from the adjacent end of the body portion for defining a material-receiving recess therebetween adjustable in size according to selected longitudinal adjustment of the trough member upon the body portion; and a slide bridging the body portion and connected between opposites sides of the trough member, said slide including a handle to facilitate longitudinal adjustment of the trough member upon the body portion, said slide being formed with a transversely extending slot and with an index arm extending in said slot and terminating short of one end of the slot to define a viewing opening beyond one end of the index arm, the body portion being formed with a longitudinal series of indicia selectively viewable through said opening and registrable selectively with the index arm, the body portion having a longitudinally extending, shallow recess the bottom wall of which is formed with a plurality of transversely extending grooves individually aligned transversely of the body portion with corresponding indicia, the index arm being formed with a depending detent adapted to snap into and out of the transverse grooves responsive to longitudinal adjustment of the trough member, to releasably hold the trough members in selected positions of adjustment, said detent extending transversely of the recess over substantially the full width thereof, the end walls of the recess beingdisposed in the path of movement of the detent longitudinally of the recess to provide limit stops engaging the slide, at opposite extreme positions to which the slide and trough member are shifted longitudinally of the body portion.

5. A measuring spoon comprising an elongated body portion; a trough member slidably mounted upon said body portion and projecting at one end beyond the body portion, said one end of the trough member and the adjacent end of the body portion defining therebetween a recess to receive a quantity of material to be measured; and a slide bridging the body portion and connected to the trough member to facilitate shifting of the trough member longitudinally of the body portion, the slide being formed with depending side anges having internal, confronting, longitudinal grooves closed at their opposite ends, said trough member at opposite sides thereof including external longitudinal ribs of a length corresponding approximately to the length of the respective grooves, said ribs engaging in the grooves to provide said connection of the slide to the trough member, the anges of the slide being spring-tensioned in a direction toward each other releasably to retain the ribs in the grooves, with the slide and trough member in embracing relation to the body portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 808,967 Arrowsmith Ian. 2. 1906 2,555,956 Chester June 5, 1951 2,747,410 Dubin May 29, 1956 

